What is the function of the amylase enzyme in digestion?

• A. To absorb nutrients
• B. To break down fats
• C. To break down starch into sugars in the mouth and small intestine
• D. To digest proteins

Answer: (C)

Amylase breaks down starch into sugars, kicking off carbohydrate digestion. In the mouth, salivary amylase starts converting starch into maltose as you chew. The digestion continues in the small intestine with pancreatic amylase, which further breaks starch into maltose and other short sugar chains. These sugars are then turned into glucose by other enzymes so they can be absorbed. Amylase doesn’t digest fats or proteins, and it doesn’t absorb nutrients on its own, so its specific job is to turn starch into sugars in the mouth and small intestine.